Background to this inspection
Updated
26 April 2018
We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.
This inspection took place on 27 March 2018 and was unannounced. The inspection was undertaken by two adult social care inspectors.
Before the inspection the provider completed a Provider Information Return [PIR]. This is a form that asks the provider to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and improvements they plan to make. We received the completed document prior to our visit and reviewed the content to help focus our planning and determine what areas we needed to look at during our inspection.
We also reviewed other information we held about the service including statutory notifications. Statutory notifications include information about important events which the provider is required to send us.
We spoke with six people who lived at the service to gain their views and experience of the service provided. Some people living in the service were not always able to articulate their views or had a poor memory. We also spoke to the registered managers, the area manager and five staff.
We spent time in communal areas observing the care and support provided and the interaction between staff and people. We looked at nine people's care files, medicine administration records, four staff recruitment records as well as staff training and supervision records, the staff rota and staff team meeting minutes. We spent time looking at the provider's records such as; policies and procedures, auditing and monitoring systems, complaints and incident and accident recording systems. We also looked at residents and relatives meeting minutes and surveys.
Updated
26 April 2018
The inspection took place on 27 March 2018. The inspection was unannounced.
This service provides care and support to people living in 35 'supported living' settings, so that they can live in their own home as independently as possible. People's care and housing are provided under separate contractual agreements. CQC does not regulate premises used for supported living; this inspection looked at people’s personal care and support.
The service is divided into five separate geographical teams. Each geographical area has a registered manager. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are 'registered persons'. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.
The service can support a maximum of 80 people. On the day of our inspection 75 people were receiving support from St Anne’s Doncaster.
At the last inspection in January 2017 the service was rated Requires Improvement. We found the service had improved in the areas of medicines, care planning and quality assurance. However, these improvements needed to be continued and sustained. At this inspection, we found the service had sustained the improvements and embedded them into everyday practice. We have rated the service as Good.
Processes were in place to keep people safe and free from harm. Staff were knowledgeable in safeguarding adults' procedures and any concerns were discussed with the registered manager and local authority safeguarding team. Plans were in place to manage and mitigate risks to people. The registered manager regularly reviewed any incidents that occurred. There were sufficient staff to meet people's needs. People received their medicines as prescribed. Infection control procedures were adhered to.
People were supported by staff that had the knowledge and skills to undertake their duties. Staff completed a programme of training and received regular supervision. Staff supported people to eat and drink sufficient amounts and met their dietary requirements. Healthcare professionals were liaised with by staff and visited the service as required to ensure people had their health needs met. Staff adhered to the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and conditions specified in people's Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards authorisations.
Kind and respectful relationships had been developed at the service. Staff were polite and friendly when engaging people. Staff supported people to make choices and communicated with people in a way they understood. People's privacy and dignity was maintained.
People's care and support needs were met. Care plans were regularly reviewed and held sufficient and appropriate detail about how people were to be supported. A full activities programme was in place, this included individual and group activities. People said they would be comfortable to make a complaint and were confident action would be taken to address their concerns. The registered managers and provider treated complaints as an opportunity to learn and improve.
Staff felt well supported by the registered managers and area manager and felt they were approachable. Staff and people's feedback was obtained through informal conversations, organised meetings and regular surveys. A programme of audits was in place to review and monitor the quality of service delivery. The registered manager adhered to the requirements of the CQC registration and submitted notifications about key events that occurred at the service.
Further information is in the detailed findings below.